LABOUR PARLIAMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8339, 28 January 1913, Page 11

LABOUR PARLIAMENT

CONFERENCE OVER

ANTI-MILITARIST RESOLUTION

aborted

Tho conference- convene*! by tho lt*loratiou of Labour concluded its oehberaiioii‘s yesterday ai'tornoon. Tiro official .report of tho day's business is its under : Telegrams of congratulation were received from tho Flaxmillcrs’ Unions annual meeting at Palmerston. and tho Uikarangr Miners’ Union. MR McLliNNAN’ti POSITION. It was resolve*! that conference's resol ntiou ro Air McLennan's doR-gatcship £*, forwarded to tho dally press, wuh a m/est that it bo printed m its corrcc. form, and that tho olhcial repora-i insist on resolutions being published as carried by conference. . , , [Tho i-eooluUoa was not amended in this office- Tho ameudmoiu which the sonic reuco wirifiee to have made as to tne effect that Mr McLennan represorued "organised Labour and no t scabbery. This was by way <rt retort, to .the repudiation by the Ohinemuri miners > Mr McLennan as their delegated AGAINST MILITARISM. Mr Cook moved: "That this conference is of the opinion that .militarism has always been against tho iiuonots or tho workers, and tncroforo eondemns it, and is prepared to recommend 10 all umona the ihardy aiul valiant resolution, calling a general strike on a declaration of war by any of tho groat Rowers. And wo declare our determined hostility to the form of conscription placed on tho Now Zealand statute books, and demand ns immediate repeal, and also tho immediate stoppage Of criminal .proceedings against our youths.’’ .Ho said war was unite unnecessary. With an intemaaonul understanding among the workers they could prevent war by acting unitedly. British, working men positively refused to endorse conscription, and yet on tho plea of assisting Britain they wore being asked to do what Britain wouldn’t do. Their real enemies were not the workers of other countries, but the exploiters and adulterers. Mr H. A. Campbell seconded. Be said seventy or eighty of the very best boys in tho country were being sent to gaol, and an effort was being made to make them into criminals. These boys were destined to bo tho foremost figures in the working-class movement. When the war against South Africa had been fought and won, tho main effect of the victory had been to drive out tho white unionist and bring in some 200JKM) Chlueee, who were really in the position of Haves. Mr Pulton supported. He argued that mental development and not military training was needed. An Act that took away the civil rights of the boys should be fought. Mr Ross said there was only one viewpoint from which they could approach Che subject, and it was that of the working class. The common enemy of the working class declared that militarism and conscription were necessary. At Waihi, when the strike took place, the arms of the Territorials were called in, and when the Huutly trouble occurred the soldiers were held in readiness. Ho read telegrams from’ tho West Coast showing what was being done there; also from Christchurch. Throughout the whole world tho armed forces of the political State had been used against tho industrial workers in time of class conflict. The motion was carried unanimously, with applause. ANNUAL CONFERENCE. Mr Curtis, president of the Wellington Watersiders, addressed the conference,, congratulating the coaferenodon its labours’ results, and expressing a wish for greater unity. He concluded by inviting delegates to attend the annual pionio of the watersiders at .Lyall Bay. . Mr O'Brien moved that an annual conference of ail trades unions be held, Mr Boreham eeoondedOn Mr Campbell’s amendment, the matter was referred to the .unity lldtteonr O’Brien moved: “That in the, opinion ol this conference tho trades unions of Now Zealand should support "The Mooriland Worker’ heartily, and therefore the, delegates present pledge themselves to do all in their power to establish tho paper in the unions, and further urges that where possible all union printing be handed over to the ‘Worker’s’ printer for vxecution.’ Mr Douglas seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously, alter having been supported by Messrs Boreham, 'Jfoung, Campbell and others. It was resolved that “The Maorilancl Worker’’ be the official organ of the unity campaign during the next six months. TROUBLE AT STATE MINE. Mr O’Brien drew attention to the fact that tho engine-drivers at tho Point Elizabeth State mine were in danger of being forced into conflict with tho management, by whom the engine-drivers’ attempts to secure a working arrangement wore being positively flouted. He moved: “That this conference declare its support of the Westland engine-drivers in their struggle with the Mines Department.”

Tho motion was carried unanimously, IMMIGRATION DETRIMENTAL.

Ur Campbell moved, and Mr Hose seconded: "That this cci;ferenco expresses its conviction that State-aided immigration on the lines of the Massey Administration is detrimental to the interest of the working class, and calls upon the unions ot Now Zealand to vigorously combat a palpable design to Hood tho labour market and aid tbo employers in their attack upon the workers."—Carried. STRAIGHT UNIONISM.

Mr Ross moved, and Mr Campbell seconded: "That in view of developments at Uun:ly, and tho situation created there by the corrupt recognition of a bosses' Mniou, this conference pledges its support to tho Waikato Minors’ Union in any action it might dotm it necessary to tak lor the preservation of straight unionism and tho protection of tiro of honest working class organisation."—Carvied. POLICE AT AVAIHI. Mr Jones moved, and Mr Armstrong seconded; “That this conference places eu record its severe condemnation of the conduct of tho Government and the police in connection with the mobbing and evictions of tho strikers at Waihi; and this conference is of opinion that the charges jnado in connection therewith by tho Waihi Minors’ Union and the Federation if Labour emphatically warrant a public .Inquiry into rho happenings, and that all muons bo requested to urge their representatives in Parliament to take stops to secure such inquiry.” CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT. Mr Belcher moved: "That tho Government bo requested to amend the Constitution Act of New Zealand so as to admit of tlie Dominion Parliament enacting any lawt> necessary to conserve the interests of mo persons engaged in tho maritime or any other occupations of the Domin*oJl. ” _. t Mr Young seconded. In 1903 the New Zealand Parliament passed a shipping law which was sent to England for Royal assent, and hung up for eighteen months, in which time it was submitted to the Board of Trade solicitors as well as io tho solicitors for the Shipping I adoration. Later, Parliament placed a 21 per cent, tax. on tickets ami cargo on ships manned bv cheap Asiatic labour. The seamen did not say that the Asiatic was to be debarred from petting his living; they tiimplv said that when he was so employed ho was to get tho same wages ns iue white or Ruropeau '■eamen. The B>lo measure was hung mi. ami lapsed became it did mil secure Royal assent within tho prescribed two years’ period.

It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Webb, that tho matter be deterred until after other remits were dealt with. about unions. Mr Young inovt-d, and Mr Fulton seconded : "That where a union register**! under the Trades Union Act or other law can establish that its membership exceed that of a similar union of workers engaged in the same industry the same locality, it shall not bo lawful tor any -uch similar union to be registered or exist, in such locality.", ~ . Mr (VunT)i)fll opposed on the ground U,at tin- motion would have tho opposite vlVnct to that intended. Ho held its result would bo to strengthen the position ol' luw scab unions now in existence, Mr it. 11. Vovco moved, and Mr Agar seconded: ‘'That this conference of trade unions vigorously protests against tho action of tho Ciovcrnmcnt in allowing a union in connection with ono of its own industries tho right of a close corporation and tho. right to tho election of its members by ballot/' he said that at Lyttelton they had a railway tmion or about eighty members —a close corporation — by thei department, and they demanded that the occupation should be opened to every worker. COMPENSATION - ACT. Mr Xu Diamond moved: “That tho Compensation Act be so amended as to make compensation imperative in all accidents sustained during tho hours ot working, and irrespective of any other Act in existence. ' He referred to the case of 11. Knight, who had been injured for life, and to whom, compensation had been denied because of the merest tech* nicality. , _ . _ .. Mr Dowgray seconded. Ho said it a man was away from his working place when ho met with an accident he forfeited every claim under the Act, and there was at least one hour every day whoa a man was compelled to be away from his case. Ho asked them if an appeal were made in H. Knight's caso to no ready to ask their unions to respond liberally. Mr Fulton supported. Tho motion was unanimously carried. It was also resolved that xn all cases under the Compensation Act insurance should bo compulsory on employers. PASSIVE KESISTEKS. A telegram was received from Millerton asking whether the organisation were prepared to stand by the passive resisters or whether they must drill. Mr Semple moved: “That Mr Price be informed of the conference's decisions re militarism and conscription/' —Carried unanimously. Mr lingers moved: ''That the conference refers tho Millerton telegram to the committee on unity for immediate report to tho unions of the Dominion." —Car* ried. CONCLUSION. A hearty vot» of thanks to tho chairman (Hon. J. Kigg) for the able way ho had conducted the business of the conference was carried with acclamation, the chairman briefly responding. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr Hickey for his work as secretary of the conference. On tho motion of Hr Webb the conference adjourned, the mover remarking that this had been tho greatest conference ever held in iNew Zealand. Mr fctomple, in seconding, spoke in a similar strain. Tno conference concluded with cheers and the singing of “Auld Lang Syne."